Category Archives: anthology

First, a clarification, because this is important. I saw a comment about this, so I wanted to clarify that the US flag in the cover image for Unfortunate Son is not touching the floor. Travis was standing on a paper background drape for the shoot, and while the flag did touch the paper a few times, it was never on the floor. Travis is a military veteran and I’m the daughter and granddaughter of one, so that’s definitely something we paid attention to.

And in other news, I’ve completed the first round of edits on Sons book 2, Wayward Son, and I’m deep into work on book 3, Nobody’s Son. Also, the print version of Butt Babes in Boyland is being finalized, and Butt Riders on the Range (with my story “Faux Cowboy”) is in production with the publisher. Release dates to follow as soon as I have them! 🙂

My 12 Days of Charity list is complete. If you need last-minute donation ideas, this would be a great place to start!

Amazon and AllRomance buy links are now active for Butt Babes in Boyland (in addition to the direct Wilde City link). So now you can pick up the book with a free ARe code, LOL. (For those wondering, the book will be available in print too, but I don’t know that publication date yet.)

The next butt-thology, Butt Riders on the Range, is in production and will be out in the spring. My story is “Faux Cowboy.”

Did you see the gorgeous cover for my January 12 release, Unfortunate Son?? You can preorder a copy, too!

I’ve just submitted the final manuscript file and a cover art spec sheet for Wayward Son, so that process is moving along. May/June is the release date!

I’m mostly taking Christmas week off. I have one production request to take care of by the end of the weekend, but after that, I’m not worrying about anything writing-related for a week. And I’m teleworking for the day job on Monday and Tuesday, but then I’ll be off for the holiday. Looking forward to the break! 🙂

OMG, I am still flailing about this! Playing Ball, the baseball-themed anthology I helped develop with fellow authors Kerry Freeman, Marguerite Labbe, and Kate McMurray, won Best LGBT Anthology/Collection in the Rainbow Awards! We owe a great debt to Dreamspinner Press and Elizabeth North for publishing the book and to Grace McCullough for fabulous editing, as well as to those who nominated for and judged the contest. Woot!

*takes breath*

In other news, the lovely Kage Alan guested at Love Bytes Reviews today to plug our new anthology, Butt Babes in Boyland. He’s giving away a signed copy of the second butts anthology, Butt Ninjas from Hell, so run over and get your entries in!

It’s release day for the latest entry in our sort-of series, Butt Babes in Boyland, from Wilde City Press. Yay!!!

The blurb and the complete story list:

The holidays are a time for visiting with family and friends, and sharing tales of peace, childlike innocence, and good will towards all mankind. These are not those stories. Instead, sit back and allow yourself to be regaled with the colorful adventures of toy-themed parties with a twist, the future of Elf Enforcement, misfit sex toys at the North Pole, the mysterious Workshop 69, special delivery packages, and a serious case of potentially mistaken identity. This year, the Butt-thology authors cordially invite you to join them in creating a new tradition.

Posted onDecember 1, 2014|Comments Off on Rainbow Awards: Honorable Mention for Playing Ball

More great news! The baseball anthology Playing Ball that I helped put together with Kerry Freeman, Marguerite Labbe, and Kate McMurray has received an honorable mention nod from the Rainbow Awards. As awards maven Elisa Rolle explains it, an honorable mention goes to any book that’s awarded a score of 36 or higher (out of 40) by at least one judge. These stories might still place in the final awards listings for their categories.

Here are some of the comments we received:

This was overall a very enjoyable anthology. The characters are ‘people’ one can actually ‘see’ in real life. Their situations are factual, things like what each of these men went through I could see happening to men out there.

This array of stories sucked me in… I liked they were so easy to fall into and feel like you were a part of the story itself—sign of good writing to me.

Probably the best anthology I have ever read. Each story was a little gem. Loved it.

Thank you to the judges, and especially to Elisa for all the hard work she puts into this project every year. 🙂

For those who haven’t tried out this anthology, here are the buy links and story blurbs:

Toby MacMillan, grandson of Atlanta Braves owner Ray MacMillan, lives for baseball and loves his team. When he meets new team member Caleb Browning, an innocent welcome-to-the-big-leagues dinner leads to a not-so-innocent night together. Toby quickly calls things off, afraid of the ramifications of their tryst, but the two men develop a friendship that soon becomes more. After Caleb takes a fastball to the head, their budding romance hits the news—and Toby’s grandfather hits the roof. When Ray MacMillan demands Toby deny the relationship, Toby must choose between the team he’s loved all his life and the man he could love for the rest of it.

One Man to Remember by Kate McMurray

It’s 1927, and in New York City, Babe Ruth and the Yankees’ unstoppable batting lineup, Murderers’ Row, is all anyone can talk about. Across town, the Giants’ rookie infielder Skip Littlefield racks up hits, creating a streak to rival the Babe’s. Worried his secrets could get out, he avoids the spotlight, but he catches the attention of lauded sports reporter Walter Selby, a notorious dandy whose sexuality is an open secret. Skip reluctantly agrees to an interview, and mutual attraction is sparked. Skip can only hope the more charismatic stars will draw attention away from his romance with Walt. Otherwise, his career and everything he loves is at stake.

Wild Pitch by Marguerite Labbe

Ruben Martell fell in love with Alan Hartner during their years playing baseball. They stepped over the foul line once, but the encounter left them struggling with heartache and guilt, turning away from each other to focus on their families. Now retired from the majors, they run a batting cage together and coach rival Little League teams as they juggle fatherhood and being single again. Though Ruben has never given up hope that Alan might look at him as more than a friend, Alan seems determined to keep things the way they’ve always been. But long-buried feelings and desires have a way of resurfacing, and Ruben can’t wait forever.

One Last Road Trip by Kerry Freeman

With the last game of his Major League Baseball career behind him, Jake Wilson hits the road. Years have passed, but he never got over the romance he shared with Mikko Niemi back in college. Finally, he’s ready to do something about it. He starts with some crucial visits to his ex-wife in New Mexico, his son in Oklahoma, and his daughter in Tennessee. But his true destination is Mikko’s home in Georgia, where he’s hoping to get a second chance at love.

The holiday sales are ramping up all over the place, and today, MLR Press is celebrating Thanksgiving with 25% off everything in their store. That includes the first of the “butts” anthologies, Butt Pirates in Space, which includes my short story “What to Expect When Your Boyfriend is Expecting.”Great timing if you haven’t had the pleasure, since the third anthology, Butt Babes in Boyland, is coming out December 3 from Wilde City (which also has the second anthology, Butt Ninjas from Hell.)

Strap yourself in and strap something on as you’re transported across galaxies and lifetimes by Kiernan Kelly, Kage Alan, Angelia Sparrow, T.C. Blue and Shae Connor. Whether it’s an interspecies pregnancy between two hormonal males, a swashbuckling group of pirates, or free gifts that talk, you’ll soon learn why in space, no one can hear you cream. Open wide for…

Posted onSeptember 26, 2014|Comments Off on Blogging at Prism, and All in a Day’s Work Updates!

I’m at Prism Book Alliance today, talking about my love affair with food and how it led to “Ice Cream Dreams,” my story in the All in a Day’s Work anthology. Great big thanks to Brandilyn and her team for having me over!

Yesterday, A.J. Cousins visited Boys in Our Books to discuss her story in the anthology, “Dance Hall Days,” a 1930s historical set in London. She wrote more about her story on her blog, too. One of the things I love about doing anthologies is how different the stories turn out. 🙂

Back on Monday, our release day, Bru Baker visited MM Good Book Reviews, which also gave the antho a lovely review.

Also, in case you missed it, all the buy links for the anthology are up and running now:

It’s here! My latest release, the All in a Day’s Work anthology, is out today from Dreamspinner Press. Check it out…

A guy’s got to make a living. He can do it the conventional way—by selling cars, scooping ice cream, or delivering sandwiches—or he can earn his money as a spy, a historical interpreter, or the host of a myth-busting television show. Whether the men in this anthology are working hard to build their own business or performing in drag at a dance hall, every day has the potential for surprises and the chance to satisfy their lust or maybe find something more permanent. For the guys in these stories, what’s all in a day’s work might be anything but what they expected.

My story is “Ice Cream Dreams”: Gage Albert is working at his Uncle Gordon’s ice cream shop when well-regarded young chef Loren Rey stops by, interested in using the shop’s unique flavors for his new restaurant. Gage plies Loren with samples and banter and soon finds ice cream isn’t the only thing on the menu. After the men share a hot night together, Gage approaches his uncle about Loren’s ideas, but he fears Gordon’s religious nature may mean rejection not just for Loren but also for Gage, who isn’t out to his uncle. Torn between the business and the personal, Gage has to decide if a future with Loren is worth revealing all.